Patrick Baumann, General Secretary of the FIBA World Federation, has sharply attacked the EuroLeague officials a few days before the start of the World Cup qualification.
Jordi Bertomeu, boss of the European royal league, said Baumann to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, criticising the development of the EuroLeague:”At some point, the teams have six players and there is a square ball.
The FIBA and the EuroLeague continue to argue because of the new country game windows. The World Cup qualifiers will start on Friday, but the most important European Cup competition will not stop.
For example, the new national coach Henrik Rödl is missing five nominated players against Georgia in Chemnitz on Friday.
“The EuroLeague has increased the number of games, not FIBA,”said Baumann,”and that will continue. They want 24 teams.”
There are currently 16 clubs competing. The fact that the NBA also refuses to release its players for the World Cup qualification does not allow Baumann as an argument of the opposing side.
“The EuroLeague is not the NBA. Adam Silver (NBA boss, d. Red.) is not the president of the EuroLeague. We have to stop making crazy comparisons.”